The results of the survey by the "Belgrade on the Move" organization show that the people of Belgrade support the introduction of direct election of mayors and strengthening the role of local communities.
In a survey conducted by the team of the "Belgrade on the Move" organization, in which 2.547 Belgraders participated, as many as 93 percent of respondents supported the introduction of direct election of mayors and presidents of city municipalities, as well as strengthening the role of local communities.
They assess that "with the amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government from 2008, i.e. by abolishing direct elections, citizens have been deprived of the right to decide for themselves who will lead Belgrade".
"It is time for an urgent reform of local self-government, which would allow citizens to directly elect the leaders of the city and their municipalities, instead of being elected by parliamentary majorities, as has been the case since 2008."
They remind that most European cities implement direct election of mayors, which increases the responsibility of elected officials and strengthens the connection between citizens and those who lead the city.
Nikola Radin, executive director of the organization, states that "the direct election of mayors is a standard practice in many European countries: in Italy (Rome, Milan, Turin) this practice has existed since 1993, in Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk) since 2002, in Croatia (Zagreb) since 2009. In Slovenia, mayors, including the one in Ljubljana, are elected directly. Most German cities, such as Munich and Frankfurt, also has direct election. Even in France, although the mayor of Paris is elected indirectly, most other cities (Marseilles, Lyon) function through direct election within the majority system."
Local communities are needed.
The organization also points to the necessity of revitalizing local communities, which currently have almost no real jurisdiction.
"It is necessary to enable citizens to directly decide on issues that concern their immediate surroundings - from the arrangement of streets and parks, through small communal interventions, to participation in the creation of local budgets.
Belgrade deserves democracy from below - from the local community to the top of the city. It is time to return the right to vote and the right to influence to the citizens," concludes Nikola Radin.
Milija Koldžić, accused of attacking students and a professor of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in November last year, pleaded guilty and received a suspended prison sentence of six months with a two-year probationary period, as well as a fine of 50.000 dinars
Summer vacation starts today for primary school students in schools that were not on strike. Those schools where educators refused to work in the fight for their rights and in support of students, will work for another week
The Expo expanded from 114 to 813 hectares with the latest changes to the plan, which caused about 700 objections. The issue was resolved through an online public hearing, although this was not required by law
In Serbia, on Saturday, there were protests in 13 cities over the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act. About 200 criminal reports are submitted annually, of which only ten result in a criminal verdict
Belgrade is developing according to the citizens, announced Siniša Mali and listed the plans that these same citizens do not think well of
Aleksandar Vučić now has only the old, proven methods of classic dictatorships left, because these modern methods of insanity and poisoning the public are failing. And that, however, goes against his head
Vučić is not defending the state, but himself from the state. With a drum on his back and a guitar in his hands, this man-orchestra performs two or three of the same songs without hearing, with falsifications and falling out of rhythm. His government and politics are like that. In short - dangerous for the environment
Arrests of professors, punishment of people, firing of journalists... The regime of Aleksandar Vučić is shining and is yet to shine. It is the decadent phase of the regime, the one towards the end
The archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
